[sustran] Why not limit cars in Delhi, asks High Court

[Faizan Jawed]

I don't know if this one made it to us.Why not limit cars instead of banning
cycle rickshaws, HC asks NDMC *By:* Agencies   *Date:*  2009-02-05   *Place:
*Delhi



Terming the approach to ban cycle rickshaws in parts of the city
"unrealistic", the Delhi High Court on Wednesday slammed the New Delhi
Municipal Corporation for not fixing a limit to the number of cars a person
can possess.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah noted that the in place
of regulation pollution, "the government seems more interested in dumping
the eco-friendly mode of transport".

"We find the guidelines are unrealistic. Why are you so enthusiastic in
banning cycle rickshaws? Why do not you issue guidelines limiting the number
of cars a person can have in the city?" the bench observed while hearing a
PIL filed by Manushi, an NGO.

The NGO submitted that the measure to ban rickshaws in some parts of the
city has taken away the livelihood of poor people.

"It seems the total number of cars in Delhi are more than the combined
number of cars in three metros Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata," noted the Bench
and said that in view of the increasing pollution, people in several
countries including China and Holland have adopted bicycles and cycle
rickshaws as a mode of transport.

Appearing for the petitioner NGO, senior counsel Prashant Bhushan submitted
that the guidelines issued by NDMC were violative of Fundamental Rights
under Article 14 (Right to livelihood) of the rickshaw pullers in the city.

Bhushan said a ceiling of 99,000 licences compels most of the six lakh cycle
rickshaws to ply illegally.
The government allows plying of rickshaws in parts of the city, the lawyer
said and added that they are most eco-friendly among all other vehicles.

The court has fixed February 19 as the date for further hearing of the
matter.
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